Questions to ask a renovation contractor

The best questions to ask a renovation contractor cover six things: who they are and whether they are licensed, what exactly the estimate includes, how the contract and payments work, who does the work, how the job runs day to day, and how problems and changes get handled. Ask every contractor the same questions and write down the answers. The overall checklist for hiring lives in how to choose a remodeler. This page is the interview script.

Licensing and insurance questions

• "What is your license number and classification?" A good answer is immediate. You can confirm it with the CSLB License Check.
• "Do you have employees, and what workers' compensation coverage do you carry?" CSLB says California requires employers to carry workers' compensation even with one employee. A licensee with no employees can file an exemption instead. A good contractor tells you which applies and sends proof.
• "Can you send a certificate of liability insurance?" Expect it from the insurance company or agent, not a photocopy someone made at home.

The insurance verification guide goes deeper on checking the paperwork.

Scope and estimate questions

• "What is included, and what is not?" Demolition, disposal, drywall repair, paint, permits and cleanup are the usual gaps.
• "Which materials are allowances?" An allowance is a stand-in price for something you have not picked yet. Ask what each amount is and what happens if you choose above it.
• "What could change the price?" Older houses hide things. A good contractor names the likely ones, such as rot, outdated wiring or pipe that will not take a new fixture.
• "Did you look at the space before pricing it?" A price given without a visit is a guess.

Contract and payment questions

These are the questions that protect your money. California law spells out what a home improvement contract must contain, and CSLB's consumer guidance lists more.

• "Can I see the contract before I commit?" It should be legible, describe the work and materials, show the license number and say who pulls permits and when the work starts and ends.
• "How much is the down payment?" By law it cannot exceed $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, with an exception for contractors holding a blanket performance and payment bond with CSLB.
• "What is the progress payment schedule?" Each payment should tie to specific work. CSLB says payments should not exceed the value of the work done.
• "What is my right to cancel?" For most contracts it is three business days, five for seniors. Some exceptions apply, so ask how it applies to yours.

People and schedule questions

• "Who will be on site, and are they employees or subcontractors?" Either can be fine. You want to know which, and you want a name.
• "Who is my one contact?" A good answer is a person, with a way to reach them.
• "What is the order of work?" A good answer walks through demolition, rough-in, inspection, close-up and finish in sequence, and explains where the schedule depends on inspections or material lead times.
• "What does a normal workday look like?" You are asking about start times, cleanup and how the house is protected.

Be skeptical of any contractor who gives a firm completion date for a job they have not yet seen opened up. A better answer explains what the schedule depends on.

Communication questions

Poor communication is behind more remodeling disputes than poor workmanship. Settle the habits before the work begins.

• How will updates reach you: text, call, email or a weekly walk-through?
• How fast do you get an answer when you ask a question?
• Who decides when a problem is found, and how is it explained to you?
• How are decisions on tile, fixtures and finishes tracked so nothing is ordered twice?

Permit and inspection questions

Ask who pulls the permit and whether the price includes it. In Brentwood, permits go through the city's Development Services Division, and the city says almost all construction work needs one. A good contractor knows what your job requires, builds the permit into the plan and does not suggest skipping it.

Questions about past work and problems

• "Can I see a finished project like mine, and talk to that customer?"
• "Tell me about a job that hit a surprise. What did you do?"
• "What do you do when the work is finished and something is not right?"

The last question is about what stands behind the work after the final payment. Ask for the answer in writing. Our general contractor page describes how one team manages a project from start to finish here, and our red flags guide lists the answers that should worry you. N. Abeyta Remodels offers free estimates, and you are welcome to put every question on this page to us.

Questions to ask a renovation contractor: FAQ